The two digging mat sizes
GroundUp's recycled HDPE digging mats are 8" thick, notched, and 4' wide, in two lengths:
- 4' × 16' at about 1,620 lb: the lighter mat, 29 to a truck.
- 4' × 18' at about 1,965 lb: two more feet of reach per mat and fewer seams across a wide spread, 24 to a truck.
Jobs that need a different footprint or thickness can be quoted as a custom build.
HDPE vs. timber: weight, trucks and service life
Compared with mixed-hardwood timber of the same size, recycled HDPE changes what each mat weighs, how many fit on a truck, and how long a mat lasts.
| 4' × 16' HDPE | 4' × 16' timber | 4' × 18' HDPE | 4' × 18' timber | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight per mat | 1,620 lb | 2,600 lb | 1,965 lb | 2,700 lb |
| HDPE weighs | 38% less | 27% less | ||
| Mats per truck | 29 | 18 | 24 | 18 |
| Trucks for 200 mats | 7 | 12 | 9 | 12 |
| Service life | Built for 10+ years | 6–18 months | Built for 10+ years | 6–18 months |
GroundUp shipping figures. HDPE digging mats are notched; chains add about 30 lb per mat. Truck counts round up to whole loads.
Freight on every move
A pipeline spread moves, and the mats move with it: mobilization, each leapfrog down the right-of-way, and demobilization. Fewer trucks per move lowers the freight bill every time.
At 29 recycled HDPE mats per load against 18 timber, the 4' × 16' size needs 38% fewer trucks for the same mat count. That is fewer trips through landowner gates and fewer heavy loads on county roads. Run the Numbers takes your own mat count, haul distance and timber life.
Replacement over ten years
Timber digging mats sit in wet ground, take track traffic and get picked and set all day. In that service, timber typically lasts 6 to 18 months. Recycled HDPE mats are built for 10+ years, so over a ten-year program timber gets bought 7 to 20 times for each HDPE purchase. New composite mats list at about $3,250 to $4,200 or more each (new-mat list prices and public bids, October 2026); GroundUp's recycled HDPE is priced below new composite and quoted to your fleet. The comparison that matters is total cost over the life of the program, not the price of one mat.
Sizing the order
Start with the length of ditch open at one time, not the full length of the line, and plan to leapfrog mats forward as the spread advances. Then add:
- Mats for equipment staging and turnarounds.
- Extra mats for crossings, soft spots and wet areas.
- A spare count, so one damaged or buried mat does not stop the spread.
The Mat Planner lays out the right-of-way and produces a mat count you can send with a quote request.
Buy, finance or rent
- Buy: digging mats ship from our yard in Winnie, Texas.
- Finance: in-house financing spreads the cost of a fleet over time.
- Buy-back offer: when the job ends, GroundUp makes an offer on the mats. Ask about terms on your quote.
- Rent: GroundUp considers rentals case by case, based on job length, location and fleet availability.
Questions
Which digging mat size should I use for pipeline work?
The 4' x 16' is the lighter mat at about 1,620 lb, with 29 to a truck. The 4' x 18' adds two feet of reach and fewer seams at about 1,965 lb, with 24 to a truck. The Mat Planner lets you compare layouts.
How many HDPE digging mats fit on a flatbed?
By GroundUp's shipping figures, 29 of the 4' x 16' recycled HDPE mats fit on one truck, compared with 18 timber mats. For the 4' x 18', it is 24 recycled HDPE mats against 18 timber.
How long do timber digging mats last compared with HDPE?
Timber digging mats typically last 6 to 18 months in pipeline service, so a ten-year program buys timber 7 to 20 times. GroundUp's recycled HDPE mats are built for 10+ years.
Can I rent digging mats instead of buying?
GroundUp considers rentals case by case. For longer programs, compare that with buying, financing, and the buy-back offer at job end.
